Practical, hands-on learning is helping students enjoy school for the first time
Year 10 student Cam is discovering what he’s capable of – and now has the confidence to show it. Before joining Hands on Learning (HoL), Cam was struggling, and school felt like a place to endure rather than somewhere he belonged.
“I didn't talk much to anyone. I had anxiety. I didn't want to be at school. In class I wouldn't ask for help,” says Cam.
Two years on, things look very different. “Now I've come out of my shell. I've built confidence talking in HoL and giving ideas. Now I'm asking for help and helping others as well when they ask.”
A practical path forward
In collaboration with Save the Children, HoL is a practical in-school program that builds engagement, wellbeing and attendance by creating opportunities for students to discover their talents through real, hands-on projects. Every week, small groups of students spend a day outside the classroom working collaboratively on community projects. Schools receive training and support and become part of regional networks where teachers share ideas and learn from one another.
The HoL group experience the power of teamwork by collaborating on projects that help their local community.
The program was first piloted at Frankston High School in 1999 by Russell Kerr, OAM, on a straightforward premise: give students tasks that are authentic and achievable, and self-confidence follows. That principle has proven remarkably durable. Over the past decade, HoL has grown by more than 400%, now reaching schools across Victoria, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland – in regional, rural and metropolitan communities alike.
At the heart of the methodology are four things young people need to genuinely engage with for their learning: feeling safe and connected, a sense of belonging, a belief that what they're doing matters, and confidence that they're building real skills for life and work.
When these four things are aligned, the students can thrive. “Cam’s discovered his talents, found his voice and has a ‘can‑do’ attitude and never stops trying,” says Cam’s artisan‑teacher, Donna. “We just want to see kids succeed.”
The projects HoL students take on are designed to deliver all four at once.
Projects with purpose
This came to life for Cam when his group was approached by their local shire to refurbish community seating: “When we helped the community by concreting chairs around the oval, everyone had a role. Someone brought the concrete, someone mixed it, someone set the chairs in place. We all worked together. It's good because you're learning, but you're also helping. You're making a difference while still learning at the same time,” Cam says. “You work with people you wouldn’t normally work with, and your confidence grows as you contribute and be part of it.”
Cam’s HoL group refurbished these seating pods in their community.
At home, the change is clear. “He’s a totally different kid. Before he would fade into the background, even at home. Now he contributes, shares ideas, and gives everything a go — whether he fails or succeeds,” says Cam’s mum Shirley. “The magic about Hands on Learning is Cam gets to be Cam. He doesn’t feel like he has to hide. He now has confidence.”
Through finding purpose in practical learning, young people like Cam are learning new skills, building confidence, finding their voice, and shaping their own futures.
Photos: Hands on Learning.